BACKGROUND: Microbiota refers to the population of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) that inhabit the entire gastrointestinal tract, more particularly the colon whose role is to maintain the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and control the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Alteration in the composition of the gut microbiota is called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis redisposes to inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease and indeterminate colitis. METHODS: The purpose of this literature review is to elucidate the influence of diet on the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota in the healthy gut and the role of diet in the development of dysbiosis. CONCLUSION: The "Western diet", in particular a low - fiber high fat/high carbohydrate diet is one factor that can lead to severe dysbiosis. In contrast, "mediterranean" and vegetarian diets that includes abundant fruits, vegetables, olive oil and oily fish are known for their anti-inflammatory effects and could prevent dysbiosis and subsequent inflammatory bowel disease.

AOUP P Giaccone School of Medicine and Surgery University of Palermo Italy

Department of Anatomy Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences Faculty of Medicine American University of Beirut Beirut Lebanon

Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience Section of Histology University of Palermo Italy

Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience Section of Human Anatomy University of Palermo Italy

Department of Laboratory Medicine Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross Jal Eddib Lebanon

Department of Radiologic Science School of Medicine and Surgery University of Palermo Italy

Euro Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology Palermo Italy

Fondazione Istituto S Raffaele G Giglio Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit Cefalu Italy

School of Medicine and Surgery Hypathia Course University of Palermo Italy

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